More color confusion

[Wilson Gray]

I, too, have always known topaz to be kinda dark yellow(ish). BTW, in
Saint Louis, it's pronounced "topoz," as lilac is pronounced "liloc",
crappie (a fish) is pronounced "croppie," tassle is pronounced
"tossle," etc.

-Wilson

On 10/30/07, James Harbeck <jharbeck at sympatico.ca> wrote:
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       James Harbeck <jharbeck at SYMPATICO.CA>
> Subject:      Re: More color confusion
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> I've always known topaz to be yellowish, and I've certainly seen it
> up close and personal more than once.
>
> According to http://www.galleries.com/minerals/silicate/topaz/topaz.htm ,
>
> "Topaz is a common gemstone that has been used for centuries in
> jewelry. Its golden brown to yellow color is classic but is confused
> with the less valuable citrine, which is sold under the name topaz.
> The blue topaz that is often confused with aquamarine is rarely
> natural and is produced by irradiating and then heating clear
> crystals."
>
> And on the side of the same page is a bunch of ads for blue topaz
> jewellery. Nary a sight of the yellowish kind. So apparently in some
> quarters, topaz is thought of as blue! News to me.
>
>
> James Harbeck.
>
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